Lets Give a Round of Applause!

Rodney Lewis, BOES Chorale Director

Volume 2

ANNOUNCING!
The Barack Obama ES Chorale Scores Big in Countys Ele-
mentary Honors Chorus Auditions!!

The Barack Obama Elementary School Chorale has a per-
fect 3-0 record in auditioning students into the elite Prince
Georges County Elementary Honors Chorus. Laniyah Dun-
can (5th Grade) Carlee Foster (6th Grade) and Kyla Harris
(5th Grade) all scored superior on their auditions and have
been accepted into the Edward M. Felegy Honors Con-
cert. These students will be participating with other stu-
dents across the county in a culminating concert at North-
west High School on Thursday, November 20th, 2014.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
BOES Chorale Announcement 1
Grade Level News 2-6
Parents Support Common Core Reading 7
Technology Support @ Home 8
Career Day 8
More on Common Core 9
Calendar of Events 9
Community News 10
Page 2
Kindergarten Soaring Eagles News
Reading Our class will focus on ways in which we use our fve senses to hear, taste, touch, see, and
smell. We will read about how we can explore the world around us by using our senses. Here are some
activities you can do with your child to help reinforce the skills well be practicing.
Word Workout
Vocabulary: senses, explore Write terms for each of the fve senses on index cards. Invite your child
to explore your home by identifying things they see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. Record their fndings
on the cards.
My Words to Know
High-Frequency Word: see Write the word see on paper and have your child trace the word. Then play a
game of I See.
Category Words: senses Ask questions about the senses. For example: What sense tells you that dinner is
cooking? (Smell)
Phonics: s Form an s with a piece of string. Then have your child form the letter. Look at a newspaper or
magazine and ask your child to circle words that begin with the letter s. Make a list of those words and
help your child read them.
Comprehension: key details
Read a story about a boy named Sal who uses his senses when he goes to the beach. Have your child
draw a line from a sentence to the detail, or picture that matches it.
Mathematics Chapter 3 Numbers Beyond 10. We will learn how to write numbers to 20, and we will
learn how to count to 100. Have your child fnd 20 or fewer of an object. For example, have your child fnd
14 pennies or 16 crayons. Count the objects. Write the number. Compare to show more, fewer or the
same.
Science Earth Science we will learn that the surface of the Earth is composed of diferent types of solid
materials.
Social Studies Families we explore Family Stories by examining the families in the Big Book and by talk-
ing about families with the class.
Health We will learn about getting regular checkups and staying healthy by managing stress.

Parent Reminders- Review your childs Behavior Chart, sign and return daily. Complete homework,
practice the Kindergarten Sight Word list and writing numbers 0-10.
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BOES Newsletter, Vol. 2 Page 3
Falling in Love with First Grade! - 1st Grade News
As seasons change, transformation ignites. We begin to see leaves turn beautiful colors, our days seem
to become shorter, and the weather becomes just a bit cooler. The frst graders at BOES are not just ush-
ering in a seasonal change, they too are developing an appreciation for the transformation from Kinder-
garten to First Grade. Serving as frst graders for a little more than a month, they have now fallen in love
with the concept of being big kids now; more than anything, they now are able to identify a change in
expectations as it relates to their academic performance. They are transforming and at the end of the
process, they will better authors, illustrators, readers, mathematicians, scientists, historians, and the list
could go on! The transformation is all to prepare them for something far greater and their teachers
couldnt be happier than to assist in the process!
The students have showcased a love for learning, as they have made conscious eforts to contribute to
their daily learning experiences. In reading, they have enjoyed generating and blending words with the
medial sound being the short vowel O, responding to reading through written responses, and engaging
in center activities and small groups. Developmental Reading Assessments are now being administered
to identify student reading levels in an efort to best identify the level of diferentiated instruction need-
ed for individual students. Students completed their frst unit in math and were assessed on their under-
standing of place value concepts. They look forward to exploring addition concepts and the use of sym-
bols when comparing numbers. The students have also enjoyed learning about natural resources, the im-
portance of displaying respect in school, at home, and in their communities, and exploring the life of Ru-
by Bridges.
The frst grade team of teachers encourages parents to ensure that their children are completing daily homework
assignments, as they are graded and connected to lessons learned, in school. It is crucial that all stakeholders com-
municate the importance of the completion of assignments, as we work to develop a strong work ethic in the lead-
ers of tomorrow!
During the next four weeks, our theme will be My Family and Friends. We will be learning about
the diversity of families and family homes. Children will discover the importance of friendships
and recognize that family pets are sometimes among their best friends. We will move from
friends at home, to friends at school, and friends in our community.
Page 4
In Reading, students are learning about FABLES. Fables are stories that teach a lesson or mor-
al to the reader. Students are discussing lessons their parents teach them so they will be able
to create and write their own fable.
In Spelling and Vocabulary we are teaching Plurals and learning their Amazing Word that we
use daily to enhance our language skills. Ask your child about the Amazing Words: Barter,
peddler and expensive.
In writing students are learning how to extend stories they are reading to include characters,
dialogue, the theme and plot. Students are practicing writing short narratives in their writing
journals and sharing them with their classmates. We are also continuing to learn about fables
and poetry. Students are also learning about proofreading their writing through the use of
editing marks. Students are also learning about sequencing in text and compound words.
Our students recently completed their frst Scholastic Reading Inventory with great success!
Go Third Grade! Students will also practice cursive writing for homework, morning warm-up
and center practice.
In Math, continue working with your scholars to review the following concepts: Rounding to
the Nearest Ten and Hundred, Adding and Subtracting within 1000, and place value. This
month we are focusing on multiplication (Common Core Standards 3OA1 - 3OA9) as we work
toward our goal of fuently multiplying and dividing within 100. Remember to practice multi-
plication facts daily as we will be starting our weekly timed tests. We will continue to use
Study Island to practice the skills.
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Your Attendance Mint A Lot! - 2nd Grade News
Back to School Night was a success! The 2nd grade team would like to thank all of the parents and guard-
ians for attending Back to School Night on September 11
th
. We are sure to have a fantastic year with your
commit-MINT, involve-MINT, and encourage-MINT. We hope the mints we shared with you helped to re-
fresh your thinking about the upcoming school year.
Your Role in School Success
Homework
Help your child by developing a routine or specifc time for homework where you are available to
help or listen if needed. You are vital to their success.
Be available to encourage, praise, advise, and supervise.
Monitor your childs understanding of concepts and skills.
Check work for accuracy, neatness, and completeness.
Provide related home-learning experiences to reinforce concepts learned at school.
Ensure your child is at school, on time, every day possible.
Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast each morning so they can function in class.
Make sure your student is getting adequate sleep at night to support their growing body and mind.
Be a positive role model in your childs eyes who shows interest in reading and learning new things.
Notify the teacher of any concerns or questions you have regarding their learning or treatment in school.
Lets become a winning team with the goal of achieving academic success for your child!
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BOES Newsletter, Vol. 2 Page 5
In Science we are continuing our study of the Earth with a focus on the Water Cycle (chapter 5). STEM
Fair information will be coming home soon. A timeline with due dates will be included.
In Health students are continuing to learn about the human body.
Great job to all the scholars that have signed up for Edmodo and are participating in the enrichment.
Parents please make sure your child has all of their school supplies necessary for their success in class.
Students are to practice reading every night.
Parents who are available to help monitor students at recess and in lunch will need to have background
checks. Please see www1.pgcps.org for information on Background Checks.
We appreciate your continued patience and support as our students continue to adjust to rules and rou-
tines of 3
rd
grade.

Your Awesome Third Grade Team,
Mrs. Nelson, Ms. Rezk, Ms. Rittenburg and Ms. Spitzer
Falling for Reading and Math in Third Grade -
3rd Grade News (continued)
Wow, we are 5 weeks in and have covered two major skills already. For the next few stories we will
cover inferences and drawing conclusions. Students should read for thirty minutes nightly. Reading
will help increase skills that we are working on in class as well as eye stamina.
The spelling contracts should be utilized to help study the units spelling words. The words for this
unit are the long A and E sounds.
In Science we are coming to the end of Theme A. Currently your children have been learning about
earthquakes, volcanoes, weathering and erosion. We will be working on Environmental Issues to
conclude our Theme A study. Our next theme will be Theme B: Space Science, which involves celes-
tial bodies and the impact of celestial events.
In Math we are getting ready to conclude Unit 1 of our curriculum, which included Addition, Sub-
traction and Perimeter. Students had their frst Math Vocabulary test and need to continue to
study their math vocabulary for Chapter 2. Please help your children practice rounding numbers in
order to master Estimating Sums and Diferences. They will also need to practice creating shapes
with given perimeters. Remember that Study Island and Weekly Math Minute drills will continue
throughout the year.
We are still working in Unit 1 Geography. Student had their frst test on Chapter 1 of identifying re-
gions, landforms, climates, and resources for the region. In unit 1 we are skipping around the book
and we will begin Chapter 3 as we discuss Earning and Learning. We will talk about how North
America is the Land of plenty, how trade works then and now, and transportation and communica-
tion. We will also highlight some Hispanic Americans in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Page 6
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The frst quarter is almost over! By now, students should have all supplies and be well adjusted to
the routines of ffth grade.

In Reading, students have been on the move. They visited The Island of Blue Dolphins. Next, they
will travel back in time to visit baseball greats, Satchel Paige, Jackie Robison, and Roberto Clemen-
te. During our ventures, we will compare and contrast settings and characters, make inferences,
determine a theme, integrate information from several texts, and summarize. In Oral and Written
Communication, we will combine dependent and independent clauses. Students will also create
compound and complex sentences and use linking and action verbs. In Social Studies, our focus
will be on the American people and land. We will take a look at our diverse population, our govern-
ment, and our land and regions. In Math, students are also on the move. The next stop is Unit 2.
During their visit, students will add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals. In Science, its STEM
time. A parent letter was sent home the week of September 22nd. The STEM Fair Journal and Par-
ent Involvement Guide have also been distributed. The fnal project is due in December; however,
diferent components are due beforehand. Please adhere to all due dates. They were included in
the parent letter.

Thank you for all that you do. Dont forget to have your child reading nightly and study multiplica-
tion facts.
Busy Learning - 6th Grade News
The sixth graders have been super busy learning all that they can. In reading, they are writing argumenta-
tive essays while applying the three rhetorical appeals (ethos, logos and pathos), learning new vocabu-
lary power words weekly, and reading Harry Houdini. In math, students have been creating models to
represent divided and multiplied fractions. They are also distinguishing between greatest common factor
and least common multiple. In science, students have learned about the scientifc method and safety
rules. They are working on their Nature in Science and Technology projects, as well as applying math skills
in science.
As the "seniors" at Barack Obama ES, the sixth graders try to set the example for others. They come to
school excited and ready to learn. Although middle school is next year, our sixth graders are really show-
ing us that they are prepared!
STUDENTS ARE WORKING
HARD AT BOES!
Page 7
How Parents Can Support the Common Core Reading Standards
Mrs. Kena Buggs, Reading Specialist
Growing readers! Brought to you by Reading Rockets, Colorin Colorado and LD OnLine
The Common Core State Standards are national standards that say what K-12 students are expected to learn in
math and the English language arts. For older students, the standards expand to include literacy in history/social
studies, science and technical subjects.
Despite the complexities of the standards, there are several basic ways parents can support their childs learning.
The recommendations below line up with the four broad areas of the Common Core reading standards: Key Ideas
and Details, Craft and Structure, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas, and Range and Level of Complexity.
Key Ideas and Details
What it means: Your child will be encouraged to carefully read many books and texts. Within these texts, your child
will be working to understand what is happening, summarize key events or points and recall details important to
the story or topic.
How parents can help: After you share a story, talk about important story elements such as beginning, middle and
end. Encourage your child to retell or summarize the reading. After reading nonfction, ask questions about the
information, Is the spider an insect? How is a spider diferent than an insect?
Craft and Structure
What it means: The standards within this area (or strand) focus on specifcs within a book, for example, an au-
thors specifc word choices or phrases. A second emphasis relates to understanding the underlying struc- ture of
common types of texts, including storybooks, poems and more.
How parents can help: During and after reading, call attention to interesting words and phrases. This may include
repeated phrases, metaphors or idioms (sick as a dog, a dime a dozen.) Talk about any new vocabulary and
other ways the author used language or words to make the text interesting, informative, funny or sad.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
What it means: Within this strand, students will be working to compare and contrast details from stories,
describe key ideas using details in informational text, and tell how two texts on the same topic difer.
How parents can help: For younger students, encourage your child to describe how the illustrations within a book
support the story. For older students, have fun reading diferent versions of the same fairy or folk tale. Talk about
the similarities and diferences between the two books. Then switch to nonfction and read two books on
the same topic. Compare the information in each, again focusing on similarities and diferences. Lets look at each
book and think about the words used to describe weather. How are the descriptions alike? How are they difer-
ent?
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
What it means: Teachers will be using a variety of techniques to introduce a range of books and other written ma-
terial that both support and challenge a childs reading level. This may include nonfction and fction, info- graphics,
poetry and more. This will be done with the ultimate goal of making sure students understand what theyre read-
ing.
How parents can help: Parents can help promote their childs skill while developing their reading stamina (ability to
stick with it.). This means helping them avoid frustration or anxiety about tackling a harder book. Support your
reader by talking through some of the things that make a text complex, including multiple levels of meaning, in-
ferred information (implied rather than clearly stated) or more sophisticated graphics.
BOES Newsletter, Vol. 2
We are so excited about our upcoming Career Day. Career Day at Barack Obama has always been a tre-
mendous success because of your participation. So we are asking you to come out again and share your
career with our students.
A letter was sent home with students. Please complete and return the bottom portion of the letter and
return it or submit your info by email to your childs teacher. Thank you in advance for your participa-
tion!
(A condensed version of the letter is included below for your convenience.)

Dear Friends,
Barack Obama Elementary School is holding its annual Career Day on Friday, October 24th. We would appreciate you sharing
your career choice with our students on this day.
Participation, as a speaker, would entail the following requirements:
Have classes actively participating in Hands on activities if possible.
Relate elementary school subjects to job requirements.
Engage students in discussion pertaining to Personal Satisfaction in career choice.
If you are interested in acting as a resource on this day, please fll out the form below and return it to your childs teacher by
Friday, October 17th.
Thank you for helping us make Barack Obama Elementary Schools Career Day the best in Prince Georges County.
Sincerely,
Megan Ashworth, Principal
Glenda Baines, Guidance Counselor
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I would like to participate in Career Day as a speaker on Friday, October 24th. (Please Print)
Career Title_______________________________Name of Company________________________________________
Name____________________________________________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: Work_______________________________________Home__________________________________________
Email ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Childs Name_______________________________________Teacher________________________________________
Availability ____A.M. 8:30-12:00* ____P.M. 12:00-1:30 ____All Day 8:30-1:30
Career Day - Friday, October 24th
Page 8
Keeping Up with the Times! Technology Rules the World!
Many of our students are using the computer more often to assist in their learning. In order to help keep
them on track with the needs of modern technology, we encourage you to allow them to practice typing
skills on a regular basis. Ms. Tinnin, our media specialist, has introduced the students to a program called
Dance Mat Typing that makes learning how to type fun. If you have a computer in the home, please
allow your child to practice their typing skills at the following free website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3c6tfr
October 7 - Fall Picture Day (Must wear uniform)
October 7 - PTA Meeting / STEM Instructional Night (6 - 8 pm)
October 9 - First Quarter Progress Reports Released
October 14 - BOES Math Night (6 - 8:30 pm)
October 16 - PTA-Basketball with Dad (7 - 8:30 pm)
October 17 - Schools closed for Students & Teachers
MSEA Convention
October 23 - PTA Zumba w/ Mom & Fingerprinting (6 - 8 pm)
October 24 - Career Day
Contact Mrs. Baines (School Counselor) if youd like to participate!
October 29 - PTA Claires Gourmet Fundraiser Pickup
October 31 - 2-hr Early Dismissal for Students
Professional Development
PTA Annual Trunk or Treat (6:30 - 8:30 pm)
Looking ahead
November 3 - Schools Closed for Students
November 4 - Schools and Ofces Closed
November 11 - Schools Closed for Students (Parent-Teacher Conferences)
Contact your childs teacher(s) now to schedule an appointment
October Calendar of Events
BOES Newsletter, Vol. 2 Page 9
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What Is Your Child Learning with Common Core?
Parent Roadmaps to the Common Core Standards
(check out the links below to see documents for each grade level)

English/Language Arts
In English - http://www.cgcs.org/Page/328
En Espaol - http://www.cgcs.org/Page/261

Mathematics
In English - http://www.cgcs.org/Page/244
En Espaol - http://www.cgcs.org/Page/263
BOES Newsletter, Vol. 2 Page 10
Community News

































Prince Georges Community College is excited to announce the first ever Haunted HOwls Open House!
Thursday, October 23rd
6pm
Prince Georges Community College
Bladen Hall
301 Largo Road, Largo MD

Prince Georges Community College is opening its doors to the community to provide a safe place to trick-or-treat and
showcase all the great academic programs the college has to offer!

Bring your little ones for a night of candy, games and fun activities. This event is sure to be a hoot!

For more information email enroll@pgcc.edu or call 301-336-6000.